Publications by authors named "Valeria Pecce"
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are the most abundant circulating lipoproteins and the most critical factor in the development of atherosclerosis. This protocol allows the staining of LDLs with oil red O to monitor particle uptake in bright-field microscopy. Here, we describe how to stain isolated LDLs using oil red O and how to use them to monitor LDL uptake in time-lapse experiments or fixed cells.
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- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer, and this study examined the potential of two microRNAs, miR-146a-5p and miR-221-3p, as biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring PTC.
- The researchers conducted an observational study with PTC patients and healthy controls, analyzing levels of these microRNAs through digital PCR before and after surgery.
- Results showed that both microRNAs are effective in differentiating PTC patients from healthy individuals, with specific fold changes indicating disease progression, making them useful for ongoing patient monitoring.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignant tumor with challenging management. Multi-targeted kinase inhibitors (MKI) and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) with high specificity for RET protein are approved for advanced MTC treatment. However, their efficacy is hindered by evasion mechanisms of tumor cells.
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- This study investigates the role of miRNA-31-5p in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) by analyzing its expression levels in tumor tissues and cell lines.
- Researchers used various assays to determine the effects of miRNA-31-5p on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, highlighting its impact on cancer cell behavior.
- The results indicate that miRNA-31-5p is oncogenic, particularly in cells with the BRAF p.V600E mutation, and its overexpression may contribute to PTC progression and invasiveness.
Differential effects of bariatric surgery on plasma levels of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis
November 2022
Article Synopsis
- Angiopoietin-like proteins ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 are key regulators of how the body stores and uses triglycerides, and they respond to changes after bariatric surgery (BS).
- In a study of 45 morbidly obese subjects undergoing two types of BS (RYGB and BPD), both surgeries led to significant weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, but affected ANGPTL levels differently; ANGPTL4 decreased after both procedures while ANGPTL3 increased only after BPD.
- The results suggest that reduced ANGPTL4 is linked to fat loss and better blood sugar control, whereas the increase in ANGPTL3 after BPD is likely due to its malabsorptive effects,
Article Synopsis
- * While multikinase inhibitors for RET mutations initially showed limited effectiveness and high toxicity, newer selective inhibitors like selpercatinib and pralsetinib demonstrate better efficacy and tolerability, although direct comparisons with older multikinase drugs are lacking.
- * Advancements in high-throughput technology have uncovered rare cancer alterations, such as deletions and insertions, prompting further investigation into their functional impact and potential responsiveness to RET inhibitors. *
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied exosomal microRNAs from thyroid cancer cells (TPC-1 and K1) and compared them with non-cancerous cells (Nthy-ori-3-1) to understand their roles in tumor growth.
- They used advanced techniques to extract and analyze exosomes and their microRNA profiles, focusing on how these microRNAs interact with their target genes.
- Five specific microRNAs were found to be significantly altered in tumor exosomes, with some being more deregulated in the aggressive K1 cells, highlighting potential targets for future cancer treatments.
Article Synopsis
- A protocol is outlined for creating organoids from human thyroid cancer cells using patient-derived cells.
- Both organoids and primary cell lines are established, with the organoid medium enhanced by conditioned medium from the primary line.
- This approach allows organoids to be cultured for up to 10 months while preserving their original genetic and phenotypic traits.
Background: ANGPTL3 stimulates lipolysis in adipocytes, but the underlying molecular mechanism is yet unknown. The C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain of ANGPTL3 (ANGPTL3-Fld) activates the AKT pathway in endothelial cells. Hence, we evaluated whether ANGPTL3-Fld stimulates lipolysis in adipocytes through the MAPK kinase pathway.
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- The study explored the profiles of microRNAs found in exosomes from the serum of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients to understand their potential role in cancer diagnosis or progression.
- Researchers isolated exosomes and used advanced techniques to analyze the presence and levels of specific miRNAs, identifying four miRNAs (miR24-3p, miR146a-5p, miR181a-5p, and miR382-5p) that were differently expressed compared to healthy controls.
- The findings indicate that while certain miRNAs are secreted in exosomes from PTC patients, they may not reliably indicate lymph node metastasis, highlighting the need for further studies on how
Article Synopsis
- - The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to urgent efforts for effective COVID-19 treatments, with drug repurposing seen as a quicker and cheaper alternative to creating new drugs from scratch.
- - This study explored three network-based methods to find existing medications that could potentially treat COVID-19 by analyzing blood cell transcriptomic data from COVID-19 patients and other related conditions.
- - Alongside familiar medications like anticoagulants and corticosteroids, the research also highlighted unconventional drugs, including SCN5A inhibitors and central nervous system agents, but emphasized the need for clinical trials to validate their use.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), especially glioblastoma stem-like cells, drive cancer growth, treatment resistance, and metastasis due to their self-renewal abilities.
- A study found that four transcription factors (SOX2, SALL2, OLIG2, and POU3F2) are essential for reprogramming differentiated glioblastoma cells into a stem-like state, with FOSL1 identified as a potential regulator of these factors.
- Experiments using NTERA-2 and HEK293T cells showed that FOSL1 can directly influence the four transcription factors, alter stemness markers, and affect the cells' ability to form aggregates, indicating its role in stemness reprogram
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) to uncover the molecular mechanisms that could aid in diagnosis and treatment, focusing on genetic variants involved in the disease.
- By analyzing 42 primary PTC tissue samples with a specialized sequencing technique, they found 57 point mutations in 78.5% of the samples, with notable mutations in key thyroid cancer genes.
- A significant portion of the mutations discovered were germline (45%), primarily affecting DNA repair genes, hinting that these rare genetic variants may increase the risk of developing PTC, and further research is needed to understand their implications for prognosis and treatment.
Purpose: In the search for novel effective compounds to use in thyroid cancer (TC) unresponsive to current treatment, attention has recently focused on plant-derived compounds with anticancer activity. In this review, we discuss the preclinical studies demonstrating phytochemical activity against thyroid cancer cells.
Results/conclusions: In particular, we describe their antiproliferative properties or ability to re-induce iodine retention, thus supporting their potential use as single agents or adjuvants in radioiodine-resistant thyroid cancer treatment.
Article Synopsis
- Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTL3-4-8) are known for regulating lipid metabolism, but recent research suggests they also play a role in how adipose (fat) tissue functions.
- Dysfunction in adipose tissue, known as adiposopathy, is a key factor in developing metabolic syndrome and its associated complications.
- The review examines evidence linking ANGPTLs to changes in adipocyte metabolism and proposes a model that connects these proteins to the onset of adiposopathy and related health issues.
Article Synopsis
- Hürthle cell carcinomas (HCC) are uncommon thyroid cancers that have poor responses to treatments like radioactive iodine and kinase inhibitors.
- This study analyzed the mutations present in primary and metastatic HCC tissues from two patients, discovering the SETD2 mutation associated with decreased activity of both the H3K36me3 methylation and the p53 protein.
- The findings indicate that mutations in SETD2 may contribute to HCC progression by destabilizing p53 and promoting characteristics of cancer stem cells, suggesting a need for more research into their prevalence and potential treatments.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on a new next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay designed to identify somatic mutations in thyroid samples, which could help personalize cancer treatment.
- The validation involved analyzing 463 thyroid samples from various collection methods to ensure the assay's performance, including accuracy and sensitivity in detecting mutations.
- Results showed high sequencing performance across all samples and demonstrated that the assay can effectively be used on different types of thyroid specimens, potentially enhancing the diagnosis and management of thyroid cancer.
Article Synopsis
- About 60% of adults have thyroid nodules, but only about 5% are cancerous, raising concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
- Initial evaluations involve risk assessment and imaging techniques to determine the need for further testing or treatment, with some nodules not requiring biopsies at all.
- The approach to thyroid nodule management should be personalized, allowing for patient input on diagnosis and treatment options based on malignancy risk estimates.
Article Synopsis
- The study addresses how to decide between surgery or active surveillance for patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy using a new dual-component molecular assay.
- Researchers analyzed 156 thyroid nodules, including 63 classified as indeterminate, using next-generation sequencing and digital PCR to evaluate mutation detection and expression levels.
- The combined results of mutation analysis and miR-146b-5p expression show promise in increasing diagnostic precision, potentially reducing unnecessary surgeries and improving patient outcomes if validated for clinical use.
Article Synopsis
- An amendment to the original paper has been made.
- This amendment includes important updates or changes to the content.
- You can find the link to access the amendment at the top of the paper.